Patent CA-1311641-C (CA)
Title: Apparatus for manufacturing sealed posted mails or the like envelope assemblies
Inventor: OGAWA TAKAO
IPC: B43M5/04
Filed: 1988-06-23
Granted: 1992-12-22
Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure Apparatus for manufacturing sealed postal mails or the like envelope assemblies using a discrete envelope blanks split from an envelope-forming continuous sheet, an intermediate elements split from an intermediate element-forming continuous and having sizes adapted to be enclosed within said envelope blank, and an additional inserting element having sizes adapted to be enclosed within said envelope blank.  The apparatus for manufacturing sealed postal mails or the like envelope assemblies comprising: a stock of said envelope-forming continuous sheet; means for continuously supplying said envelope-forming continuous sheet from said stock; means for successively separating said envelope-forming continuous sheet supplied along said transverse weakening lines into discrete envelope blanks one by one; envelope blank feeder means for feeding each of said discrete envelope units to an envelope folding and intermediate element inserting station; a folding operation unit in said envelope folding and intermediate element inserting station, said folding operation unit comprising folding means for folding said discrete envelope blank along said second transverse folding line; a stock of said intermediate element-forming continuous sheet; means for continuous supplying said intermediate element-forming continuous sheet from said stock; reading means for reading said encoded mark on said intermediate element to produce an output signal corresponding to the number of sheets of said intermediate element to be enclosed together; means for successively separating said intermediate element-forming continuous sheet along said transverse weakening lines into discrete intermediate elements; intermediate element feeder means for feeding said discrete intermediate elements to an intermediate element grouping station; grouping means located in said grouping station for stacking a plurality of intermediate element successively supplied to be enclosed together into group of intermediate elements to be enclosed together, said grouping means being operative in response to said output signal from said reading means; intermediate element group feeder means for feeding a single intermediate element or a group of intermediate elements from said grouping station said envelope folding and intermediate element inserting station; first sensor means for detecting the delivery timing of said envelope blank delivered by said envelope-blank feeder means; second sensor means for detecting the delivery timing of said intermediate element or said intermediate element group delivered by said intermediate element group feeder means;: means for controlling the delivery of said envelope blank to said envelope folding and intermediate element inserting station based on output signals from said first and second sensor means so that said intermediate element or intermediate element group can be enclosed within said discrete envelope blank during its folding operation; first sealing means for sealing said envelope blank along said first adhesive layers of said envelope blank; flap folding means for folding said sealing flap of said envelope blank along said first transverse folding line of said envelope blank; and second sealing means for sealing said envelope blank along said second adhesive layer of said envelope blank folded to form a completed envelope assembly.